College of Science Research Symposium - 15th Annual Friday, April 29, 2022 12 - 2 p.m - Cal Poly Pomona

15th Annual
College of Science Research Symposium

 Friday, April 29, 2022
 12 – 2 p.m.
 University Quad
 (in front of Building 8)

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

 1. Assessing the variation in gut length of Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus
 Daniel Aguilar*, Brenda E. Calderon Aceve, Chelsea M. Williams, Jacob L. Eagleton, Advisor:
 Jeremy Claisse

 Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus, are an omnivorous California native fish species typically
 found in the rocky subtidal zone. Garibaldi have year-around feeding territories, and during the
 spawning season males actively protect a nesting site within the territory. As part of an ongoing
 diet study in the Claisse Lab, gut length data is being collected but has yet to be analyzed. This
 study will investigate variation in gut length in Garibaldi between males and females and assess
 allometric relationships with body length. Garibaldi diet has also been shown to vary between
 artificial (breakwater) and natural rocky reefs so I will also investigate if gut length varies
 between these habitats. Additionally, I will compare Garibaldi gut lengths and allometric
 relationships to those found in the literature for other damselfish (Pomacentridae) species, as
 well as other marine fishes with different types of diets (e.g., herbivore, omnivore, carnivore).
 The length of the intestine typically related to diet type and in some fish species has been shown
 to vary in relationship to seasonal or environmental factors.

 2. Understanding developmental and molecular changes underlying floral organ abscission in
 Aquilegia
 Ana Alcaraz Echeveste, Advisor: Bharti Sharma

 While the flowers may be the most visually charismatic aspect of the plants, they are also highly
 complex. Using Aquilegia coerulea (Columbines) as a model system the proposed project goals are
 to understand 1) morphological and developmental changes underlying floral organ expansion
 and maturation 2) the genetic basis of organ maturation and identification of genes underlying the
 process of organ shedding or abscission in sepals and petals 3) the molecular and developmental
 changes in the gynoecium before and after pollination through seed set. We are using histology
 and scanning electron microscopy for developmental analysis. The developmental work will
 identify a) the timing of abscission zone (AZ) formation in showy sepals and petals and b) track
 morphological changes in the gynoecium as it matures. We are also conducting RNA-seq on
 sepals, petals, carpels, and ovules from critical stages identified through developmental studies.
 The transcriptomic dataset from sepals, petals, and receptacles will be used to identify the
 candidate genes that are involved in Abscission zone formation. The transcriptome data from the
 carpels and ovules will be used to understand the molecular changes in gynoecium pre and post-
 pollination.

 3. The Impact of Teaching about Patterns of Human Variation on Non-Biology Major Students'
 Views of Human Races
 Christian Aquino, Advisor: Paul Beardsley

 Many Americans hold misconceptions that people from different socially constructed races have
 large genetic and phenotypic differences. In this study we assessed the impact of a scientific

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 curriculum on patterns of human diversity on undergraduate non-biology majors' understanding
 of the biological aspects of race and genetics. The subjects were enrolled in a virtual non-majors
 Life Science general education course during Fall semester 2021. Working with 3 faculty
 professors, subjects were assigned to a treatment (3 sections) or a control group (2 sections).
 Students in the treatment group completed a short human diversity interactive activity that used
 patterns of human diversity to address specific misconceptions. Students in a control section
 learned genetics as it is typically taught. All students in the study completed a pre-test (n=199) and
 an identical posttest which included questions to assess participants' confidence. Initial analysis of
 the pre-test data shows no significant baseline differences between the treatment group and
 control group. Data from the pre-test suggests that a higher percentage of students in this course
 hold misconceptions about patterns of human diversity than in other published work. For
 instance, 51% of students responded that there are individual traits that can be used to define a
 racial group (compared to 24%) and 70% (as opposed to 27%) think that there are more biological
 differences between racial groups than between individuals within a race. Nonetheless, the short
 lesson activity about the biological aspects of race and human variation was effective in increasing
 student understanding of human variation and how it relates to socially defined races
 (p

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 trogocytosis. To determine if trogocytic bites of Tv are digested by neutrophil lysosomes, we
 inhibited lysosomes using inhibitors NH4Cl and Concanamycin A. We hypothesize that
 extracellular degranulation is needed for neutrophils to form "bites" of trichomonads, CD89
 bound to IgA will also facilitate trogocytosis, and the trogocytic bites of Tv are digested within
 lysosomes. Due to the short-lived nature of neutrophils, our experiments will be conducted using
 neutrophil- like cells (NLCs). To create knockouts in our NLCs, we designed and constructed RNP,
 HDR oligonucleotides for each gene and delivered them into the cell line via electroporation. Using
 the knockout NLCs, we will conduct cytolysis and trogocytosis assays with Tv to determine
 whether these neutrophil genes are needed to facilitate the trogocytic killing of Tv. To determine
 the requirement of lysosomes in the killing of Tv, we inhibited the NLC lysosomes using NH4Cl and
 Concanamycin and co-culture the NLCs with Tv. These results will provide us with a better
 understanding of how neutrophils respond to the parasitic infection and how neutrophils function
 in general.

6. Avian Community Shift over Seasons in an Urban-Agroecosystem
 Rachel E. Bockrath, Advisor: Elizabeth S.C. Scordato

 Changes in human land use are contributing to the decline of global avian populations, and are
 reordering avian community structure across habitats. While studies have independently been
 conducted in the context of agricultural expansion and urbanization, we lack a clear understanding
 of how avian communities change across natural, urbanized, and agricultural habitats over
 seasons. Understanding how avian species use these diverse habitats will improve conservation
 and management decisions. To understand the changes in avian community composition across
 habitats and seasons, I am conducting point count surveys in the Santa Clara River Valley (SCRV) of
 Southern California. The SCRV is a heterogeneous urban-agroecosystem that contains five major
 habitat types common throughout California: a restored riparian corridor, remnant coastal sage
 scrub, citrus and avocado orchards, suburban neighborhoods, and urban areas. My preliminary
 results indicate that each habitat hosts a unique avian community, but those communities change
 over seasons as some species are more flexible in their habitat use. This study will help reveal the
 changes in avian community composition over seasons in this heterogeneous urban-
 agroecosystem.

7. Garlic's effects on lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid induced cytokine secretion in J774A.1
 cells
 Megan Bradley*, Benjamin Zousel, Advisor: Nancy Buckley

 Garlic has been used for centuries as a condiment and for medicinal purposes. Garlic is known to
 modulate the immune system. Important cells of the innate immune system include macrophages.
 The purpose of this project was to compare the effects of garlic on the secretion of tumor necrosis
 factor-alpha (TNF-α) from macrophages challenged with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or
 lipoteichoic acid (LTA). TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and the major cytokine produced by
 macrophages. LPS is a component of the outer cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, while
 LTA is a component of the cell wall in gram-positive bacteria. To investigate how garlic affects TNF-
 α secretion from LPS challenged macrophages vs those challenged with LTA, J774A.1 murine

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 macrophages were plated at 1.25*105 cells/mL. After incubating the cells for 24h at 37°C with 5%
 CO2, the conditioned media was replaced with fresh media and the cells were treated with LPS (1
 μg/mL) or LTA (0.5-1 μg/mL) in the absence or presence of varying concentrations of garlic. After
 another 24h incubation, we collected the cell supernatant and did an enzyme linked
 immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the TNF-α secretion. To determine whether any of the
 treatments were toxic to the cells, we performed a protein assay and an XTT cell viability assay.
 Our results show that garlic treatment in the presence of LPS increases TNF-α secretion in J774A.1
 cells when compared to control cells. Similarly, garlic treatment in the presence of LTA increases
 TNF-α secretion in J774A.1 cells. These findings suggest that garlic modulates TNF-α secretion
 from macrophages in response to bacterial molecules. The importance of our findings is that they
 could have relevance to emerging research in phytomedicine regarding the potential therapeutic
 effects of garlic in the prevention and/or treatment of infections.

8. SPATIAL AND HABITAT VARIATION IN DIET COMPOSITION AND ASSOCIATED LIFE HISTORY
 PATTERNS OF GARIBALDI (HYPSYPOPS RUBICUNDUS) IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT
 Brenda E. Calderon, Chelsea M. Williams, Jacob L. Eagleton, Advisor: Jeremy Claisse

 Life history patterns of marine fish species can vary across their geographic range. Although this
 variation is most often observed at large spatial scales, studies have demonstrated variability in
 growth, adult size, and reproduction across relatively small areas. Some of the proposed causal
 mechanisms include sea surface temperature, diet, inter- and intraspecific interactions, and size-
 selective fishing; however, the primary drivers are often unclear.

 Along the California coast, the Southern California Bight (SCB) creates a dynamic environment
 with diverse bathymetry and a temperature gradient caused by contrasting currents. The SCB is
 home to Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), a pomacentrid marine fish discernable from other
 southern California reef species for its bright orange coloration and high territoriality. Both
 sexes of Garibaldi exhibit high site fidelity, defending permanent feeding territories of 10-15m2
 year-round. For mating males, these territories include a nesting site which is typically
 maintained by the same individual through consecutive breeding seasons. Garibaldi have
 benefited from state-wide protection from recreational and commercial fishing since 1995,
 when it was named the California State Marine fish. Their long lifespan compared to other reef
 fishes, high site fidelity, and non-fished status could make assessing their life history patterns a
 good way to comparatively measure habitat quality.

 Garibaldi were collected between 2013 and 2019 from ten locations (5 island, 5 mainland)
 across the SCB. Previous projects in our lab found size frequency distribution and growth
 pattern differences by location, reef type (natural or artificial breakwater reef), and sex.
 Garibaldi grow larger and live longer in cooler locations and on artificial reefs and exhibit clear
 sexual dimorphism (males larger than females). Analyses of Garibaldi diet composition collected
 from the mainland locations showed significant variation in diet by location and reef type. In the
 present study, I plan to continue diet composition analysis by processing samples from island
 locations and combining this with the mainland diet data. Results from all studies will then be

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 analyzed to assess how spatial and habitat variation in diet is correlated with known life history
 patterns of Garibaldi in the SCB.

9. Deletion of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in FoxP2-expressing Dopaminergic Neurons does not inhibit
 Food Anticipatory Activity
 Adriana Y. Castro*, Jacqueline R. Trzeciak, Advisor: Andrew D. Steele

 Dopamine (DA) signaling has been found to be vital in circadian entrainment to food availability
 and the development of food anticipatory activity (FAA). FAA is characterized by high levels of
 locomotor activity preceding the scheduled meal time. While numerous experiments have failed
 to find a particular brain region that is responsible for circadian food entrainment, prior studies
 have indicated that DA signaling in the Dorsal Striatum act on D1R receptors to link mealtime to
 circadian activity cycles. To identify the DA neurons that control FAA, we conditionally deleted
 Tyrosine-hydroxylase (Th), a rate limiting enzyme for dopamine synthesis, with Cre recombinase
 targeted to the FoxP2 locus. While testing Th deletion in FoxP2-Cre loci, we found that mice with
 conditional knockout of Th had no impairment to FAA when compared to the wild-type. This
 observation suggests that the population of FoxP2-Cre expressing dopaminergic neurons are not
 required for FAA.

10. Anatomical Response and Community Modeling of Quercus agrifolia to Low Atmospheric CO2
 Utilizing Material from The La Brea Tar Pits
 Matthew E. Cline, Edward Bobich, Regan Dunn, Frank Ewers, Advisor: Edward Bobich

 The La Brea Tar Pits (Los Angeles, CA) was an active tar seep throughout the middle to late
 Pleistocene. These tar seeps trapped and preserved much of the local flora and fauna once found
 within the Los Angeles region. Fossils recovered at the La Brea Tar Pits can be used to infer the
 response to changes in past environments. Comparing these fossils to extant species can provide
 insight into the individual and community response to low atmospheric CO2 and other climatic
 variables associated with glacial periods within the Pleistocene. Using plant material recovered
 from a packrat midden found at the La Brea Tar Pits (C14 ~46,000-47,000 y.a. ; Mychajliw et al.,
 2020) the anatomical response of Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) to low atmospheric CO2 is
 observed. Low atmospheric CO2 functions as a selection pressure for plants as it reduces the rate
 at which carbon fixation can occur. Fossil samples provided by the La Brea Tar Pits are used in
 conjunction with live samples collected from field sites for direct comparison. Anatomical
 measurements such as stomatal size, density, and adaxial epidermal cell morphology are used to
 model and interpret the response to low atmospheric CO2. Modern physiology measurements are
 collected to utilize in modeling of past physiologic response to the environment. In addition to
 these anatomical and physiologic measurements, modeling of canopy coverage as a response to
 low atmospheric CO2 using Leaf Area Index (LAI) and modeling local atmospheric CO2 using the
 Franks Model (Franks et al., 2014) are used to assess the community response and environmental
 conditions during the Late Pleistocene. Preliminary results indicates that low atmospheric CO2
 affects both the functional anatomy of individual trees and stands of Q. agrifolia.

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11. T cell derived XCL1 facilitates the interaction with XCR1+ DCs within the CNS during WNV
 encephalitis
 Kristen De La Torre, Advisor: Douglas Durrant

 West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes encephalitis, especially in elderly
 and immunocompromised individuals. Previous studies have demonstrated that CNS-localized
 dendritic cells (DCs) protect against WNV neuroinvasive disease by establishing antiviral T cell
 responses in the CNS. In this study, we investigated the role of the XCL1-XCR1 interaction since its
 primary function is to promote DC-mediated CD8+ T cell immunity. XCR1, a chemokine receptor
 expressed predominately by a subset of DCs, mediates their migration in response to its ligand
 XCL1. We found that XCR1-deficient (XCR1-/-) mice demonstrated increased symptomatic disease
 and mortality after subcutaneous infection with WNV. In addition, WNV-infected XCR1-/- mice
 exhibited significantly increased viral burden in the CNS at day 12 post-infection. Within the WT
 CNS, we found increased XCL1 expression on day 6 post-infection. In contrast, the expression of its
 receptor, XCR1, increased on day 9 post-infection compared with uninfected CNS. As XCL1 is
 known to be produced by NK and CD8+ T cells, we next sought to determine which cells express
 XCL1 and at which locations during WNV encephalitis. Interestingly, compared with splenic T cells,
 CD8+ T cells isolated from the CNS and cervical lymph nodes from WT mice showed high XCL1
 expression. These observations lead us to hypothesize that T cell-derived XCL1 facilitates
 interactions with XCR1+ DCs within the CNS during WNV encephalitis.

12. Identification and Classification of Gymnodoris sea slugs from New Caledonia
 Jade De Souza-Canal, Advisor: Angel A. Valdés

 On the coast of New Caledonia, the number of marine mollusk species recorded is much higher
 than in most other comparable areas on Earth. Moreover, islands like New Caledonia present
 extraordinary high levels of endemism, and the fauna is largely composed of rare species.
 Undescribed species still represent 80% of all the species present there.
 The taxonomy of the nudibranch genus Gymnodoris (Mollusca, Gastropoda) is examined in this
 study, with specimens collected from New Caledonia that will be investigated with an integrative
 approach. This genus is composed of 30 known species, most of them being less than 2 cm in
 length, with yellow, orange and white colors. A total of 92 specimens of Gymnodoris and tissue
 samples are studied here, using dissecting microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for
 morphological descriptions; and DNA extraction and amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic
 trees for phylogenetic analysis.
 The results from this taxonomic study will help broaden our knowledge and understanding of the
 evolution and diversification of the genus Gymnodoris. Studying the taxonomy of New Caledonia
 nudibranchs will provide insight on this region's endemism, and more generally, help unravel
 biogeographical patterns of marine endemism, as identifying undescribed species helps get better
 estimations of species richness and biodiversity.

13. Physiological ecology of two desert perennials along an elevational gradient in the
 Northwestern Sonoran Desert
 John DiGildo*, Matthew Cline ,Erin Questad, Frank Ewers , Edward Bobich, Advisor: Edward Bobich

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 The Sonoran Desert is the most speciose desert in North America. Plant distributions within this
 ecoregion rely on oscillating climatic conditions driving bimodal cool- and warm-season
 precipitation. In this study, physiological differences of two desert perennials, Ambrosia dumosa
 and Encelia farinosa, are being investigated along a topographic gradient at the University of
 California, Riverside Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center, during a period of
 extreme drought. Plants have been monitored since fall 2021 along 100 m transects at six
 elevations (sites) in the Deep Canyon watershed: three sites in the flood plain (two low elevation
 wash sites at 193 m and 240 m, and a site along a rocky slope at 286 m), a steep mid-elevation
 slope site (480 m), and two rocky high elevation north-facing slopes (Agave Hill at 818 m and
 Lookout Hill at 851 m). The physiological assessment of the species includes gas exchange,
 chlorophyll fluorescence, and predawn and midday water relations. Further, phenologic
 observations of the canopy and leaf characteristics, and flowering, as well as measurements of
 leaf area and mass, have been recorded. Finally, climate data (precipitation, temperature, and
 relative humidity) have been analyzed over the study period at three different elevations in the
 Deep Canyon watershed. Preliminary measurements reveal physiological differences along the
 topographic gradient; both E. farinosa and A. dumosa have higher water potentials, and greater
 CO2 uptake and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II at the two highest elevations
 than they do in the flood plain and the mid-elevation site. This is in spite of the fact that the
 plants at the lower elevations are typically larger than they are at the higher elevations.

14. Comparison of the Culturing Method and Antibody Base Rapid Test Device for the Detection of
 Environmental Listeria
 Liana Ab Samad, Diana Duenas Alejandre, Wei-Jen Lin, Advisor: Wei-Jen Lin

 Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness in humans. Listeria species
 are abundant in soil, vegetations, and intestines of some animals. The microorganism can
 withstand substantial environmental hardship and persist in the natural and built environment for
 an extended amount of time. In addition, Listeria species are able to reproduce at refrigeration
 temperature, posing a serious food safety concern especially for refrigerated ready-to-eat food
 products. Outbreaks of listeriosis have been associated with the ingestion of a variety of raw and
 processed foods, including ready-to-eat meats, salads, and dairy products. Listeria monocytogenes
 is one of the most costly foodborne pathogens owing to its frequent involvement in large
 outbreaks, product recalls, and hospitalizations. Current FDA and USDA guidelines require the
 absence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meats, poultry, and deli products, as well as
 the absence of Listeria species on the food contact surfaces and environment of food processing
 facilities (1,2) . Therefore, a reliable and efficient environmental Listeria monitoring method is
 essential for the compliance of the current food safety guidelines, as well as the protection for
 consumer safety. The standard culturing methods outlined in the USDA/FSIS MLG 8.11 and FDA
 BAM Chapter 10 involve two selective enrichment steps and the subsequent selective plating,
 requiring 5 days to obtain a negative result. The findings of our study show the REBEL Method
 with BioMedix Listeria Test Kit is statistically equivalent to the reference method when tested on
 any of the three surface materials. The REBEL Method with CHROMagar Listeria tested on tile
 surface also shows statistical equivalence to the reference method. The REBEL Method provides a
 reliable and easy-to-use alternative for detecting environmental Listeria spp. and results can be

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 obtained within 24 hours when screened by the BioMedix Listeria Test Kit and 48 hours when
 screened by the CHROMagar Listeria.

15. The impact of small vertebrates on community assembly in degraded California sage scrub
 Taylor N. Edwards*, Erin J. Questad, Advisor: Erin J. Questad

 Native consumers have been found to influence plant recruitment and community assembly,
 depending on what species they prefer. In California sage scrub, little is known about the
 preferences of small vertebrate consumers, although their feeding behavior may affect
 interspecific competition between native and invasive plant species. Moreover, there is an
 unexplored opportunity to investigate which plant functional traits are preferred by small
 herbivores in the sage scrub community. We established caged and uncaged native restoration
 plots in degraded sage scrub in order to investigate the effects of consumers on community
 assembly. Thirteen native species were hand-seeded into research plots dominated by invasive
 grasses and forbs. Three community types were created using different seed treatments
 (dominated by a preferred species (Stipa pulchra), dominated by a less preferred species (Salvia
 mellifera), or control with species included in equal abundance). Plant recruitment and growth
 were monitored in experimental communities while motion activated trail cameras recorded
 consumer activity. Preliminary results showed that both native and invasive species grew better
 in caged conditions compared to uncaged. Consumers appeared to prefer native over invasive
 species. For example, the recruitment of two nitrogen-fixing native annuals with the largest seeds
 (Lupinus hirsutissimus and Lupinus bicolor) was limited to caged plots only. Camera evidence
 revealed a strong presence of granivorous birds after seeding. Research plots were most
 frequently visited by Melozone crissalis (California towhee), Zonotrichia leucophrys (white-
 crowned sparrow), and Sylvilagus audubonii (desert cottontail) in the weeks following seed
 addition. Continued data collection through the spring season will yield results on overall
 community and functional composition. So far, results suggest a notable influence of small
 granivores and herbivores on sage scrub community assembly, which may have implications for
 the success of native restoration.

16. Anthropogenic Impacts on Population Distribution and Suitable Habitat of Welcome Swallows
 (Hirundo neoxena)
 Alexis Garvin, Advisor: Elizabeth Scordato

 Human land use has risen steadily over the last several thousand years, but the long term effects
 of human land use change on demographic processes of other organisms are largely unknown.
 The welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is an insectivorous bird found throughout Australia and
 nearby islands. Welcome swallows build their nests on man-made structures such bridges and
 buildings. An increase in human land use has likely provided them with more nesting habitat,
 which may have lead to an increase in population size over time. This commensal relationship with
 humans makes the Welcome swallow an ideal system to study the effects of long-term human
 activity on species distributions. In this study I am assessing the effects of longer-term human
 activity on the distribution of the welcome swallow using sighting records from Ebird and species
 distribution models implemented through the maxent package in R. Species distribution models

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 (SDMs) estimate the relationship between observed species occurrences and the spatial
 characteristics of the locations they occupy to produce predictive models that allow us to assess
 changes in available habitat over time. Our data will provide crucial information on how
 anthropogenic factors play a role in the demographic changes of this commensal species as a
 result of long-term human landscape alteration.

17. Herbivory of Native and Non-native California Sage Scrub Vegetation
 Alyssa L. Goldpenny, Taylor N. Edwards, Erin J. Questad, Advisor: Erin J. Questad

 It is only in the last several years that herbivory within the endangered California sage scrub
 ecosystem has been more closely studied. Prior studies that exist have shown that herbivores
 prefer native species and avoid non-native invasive species in some ecosystems. We examined
 small herbivore (Desert Cottontail, California Towhee, White-Crowned Sparrow, etc.) predation
 levels on both native and non-native plant species that occur in the sage scrub ecosystem. Species
 included Amsinckia intermedia, Clarkia purpurea, Lupinus bicolor, Salvia mellifera, and Stipa
 pulchra for the natives, and Bromus diandrus, Centaurea melitensis and Hirschfeldia incana for the
 non-native invasives. The experiment utilized five plots located in the Voorhis Ecological Reserve
 where seedlings were planted and observed over ten days. It was found that by far, two native
 species were favored, specifically A. intermedia and L. bicolor, while the other three were avoided,
 along with the three non-natives. Specifically, L. bicolor is a known nitrogen fixer, and this could
 be a large part of why this species was favored so heavily. This leads us to our first area of future
 study, focusing on the nitrogen and carbon content of each species, in the hopes of uncovering a
 pattern between chemical composition and herbivory preference/avoidance. Our second area
 involves mining footage from wildlife cameras set up at each block to gather data on which
 specific small herbivore species are behind both herbivory in general as well as specific species
 predation. With this study, we show that native plant species are favored over non-native species,
 giving future restoration projects of these sage scrub ecosystems a solid direction to go in. From
 what we've found, restoration projects should focus on these three avoided species of native
 vegetation, as these will have a higher chance of surviving in the natural ecosystem when
 outplanted.

18. Verifying A Genetic System Created For STIV3
 Addyson E. Hebbert, Advisor: Jamie C. Snyder

 Viruses that infect prokaryotes and eukaryotes have received extensive research throughout the
 past century. One area of research that is currently lacking is our understanding of archaeal
 viruses. When compared with prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, the overall knowledge of
 archaeal viruses is very minimal. Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral Virus 3 (STIV3) was discovered
 within a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. The host cell, Sulfolobus Acidocaldarius, grows at
 high temperature of around 80°C and an acidic pH of approximately 3. These growing conditions
 can be easily replicated in a laboratory setting making this an ideal archaeal virus to conduct
 research on. Due to the relatively large size of the STIV3 genome a genetic system was created
 that allows for easier genetic manipulation. Through this subclone system the full-length viral
 genome is split into five smaller subclones allowing for a more viable form to be researched. The

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 goal of my project is to verify that this subclone system is feasible by conducting mutagenesis of
 the subclones and observing changes of the host cell phenotype. Testing of the host cell
 phenotype will be performed by mechanisms which include, but not limited to qPCR, western
 blots, plaque assays, and imaging.

19. Effects of Alternative Liposomal Amphotericin B Treatment Regiment on Pulmonary
 Aspergillosis in Metabolically Normal Mice
 Diego Henriquez, Jon Olson, Nancy Buckley, Advisor: Nancy Buckley

 Obesity in the United States has reached an all-time high. Nationwide 44.2% of adults are
 considered obese (BMI >30), and this often is closely correlated to a high incidence of type 2
 diabetes (T2DM). It is known that these kinds of immunocompromised individuals result in a
 lowered ability to resist infection and maintain a heightened level of basal inflammation. These
 conditions result in an increased susceptibility to infections of all kinds, particularly respiratory
 infections. The most common respiratory mold infection is humans is known as pulmonary
 aspergillosis and is most commonly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Currently patients suffering
 from this type of infection must undergo 14 days of intravenous treatment of Liposomal
 Amphotericin B (AmBisome®) in a hospital setting. Although the overall question involves what
 contribution the metabolic status of the host might have on the distribution of drug throughout
 the body, the goal of this portion of the study was to determine if alternative treatment regiments
 are equally effective in clearing severe pulmonary aspergillosis from otherwise healthy mice.

 In this study the 10-week old male ICR mice were sedated and infected intranasally with 5.7 x 106
 A. fumigatus spores and divided into three main groups, the control mice, non-intermittent and
 intermittently AmBisome-treated mice. The control mice were given intravenous 5% dextrose
 solution (D5W) daily for seven days and the remaining mice were treated intravenously with
 5mg/kg of AmBisome daily for seven days. The non-intermittent group received no further
 treatment after those seven days. The intermittent treatment groups of mice were treated three
 times a week with 5 mg/kg of AmBisome intravenously for either one week, two weeks or three
 weeks. Tissues (heart, lungs, kidney, spleen, pancreas, kidney, fat, feces and brain) were collected
 on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. To date, only the lungs have been processed and the effectiveness of
 the various AmBisome® treatment regimens were assessed based on the fungal burden measured
 in the lungs of each mouse. While more work is needed to analyze the drug concentration in the
 lungs, the fungal burden present shows that the mice that received AmBisome® treatment were
 less sick during the acute phase of infection and were able to regain almost normal weight levels.
 While the control mice were unable to regain their previous weight, mice treated with any
 regiment of AmBisome ® had statistically similar we

20. TO BE CRYPTIC OR NOT: WHAT DNA SEQUENCING REVEALS
 Julie Innabi, Advisor: Angel Valdes

 Many sea slugs have been identified and classified under certain traits. Phylogenetics and
 dissections can allow us to re-address classifications of sea slugs and attempt to support or re-
 evaluate those classifications. In this study, I resolve the relationship between cryptic species

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 using molecular phylogenies. The genera Atagema, Sclerodoris, Rostanga, and Jorunna
 nudibranchs are poorly researched nudibranch groups for cryptic species. This study uses genetic
 analysis to identify obtained specimens from New Caledonia and any cryptic species in the
 samples. Lastly, this study uses information on reproductive and digestive structures to further
 support identification in addition to genetic analysis.

21. Exploring Movement Behavior in Association with Lead Exposure in Turkey Vultures (Carthartes
 aura)
 Alec Christian Iskenderian, Alexandria Koedel, Peter Bloom, Miguel Saggese, Advisor: Andrea
 Bonisoli-Alquati

 Exploring components of flight behavior such as speed and trajectory after heavy metals exposure
 can reveal the potential impacts of these pollutants on the health of migratory species. Scavenging
 birds are essential to ecosystems because they remove carcasses, limiting disease spread.
 Exposure to lead through a diet of animals killed by lead ammunition poses ecotoxicological and
 mortality risks to scavenging animals. However, the consequences of lead exposure for migratory
 behavior have never been tested. Here I compile and analyze tracking data from migrating Turkey
 Vultures (Cathartes aura), in association with information about their lead exposure from feathers
 and blood samples. I anticipate that lead toxicity to the physiology and brain function of these
 migratory Turkey Vultures might lead to impaired flight performance. I will analyze vulture flight
 tracks collected since 2021 using GPS units from two Turkey Vultures during their spring and fall
 migration. Movement of the migratory Turkey Vultures will be visualized with DYNAMOvis, a
 software for mapping and visualization of movement data. By combining data about lead
 exposure and tracking I will test the idea that lead exposure can have detrimental effects on
 vultures' flight behavior. Aspects of flight behavior that may be changed are the time intervals
 between flights, and how efficiently vultures use wind currents and landscape features for
 soaring. If flight behavior is changed, these results may act as a reference point for larger scale
 studies of altered flight behavior in this and other raptor species, highlighting the need for
 reduction of lead exposure to conserve wildlife.

22. HOW MUCH SEED DO WE NEED? SUCCESS OF VARIED SEEDING DENSITIES AND WATERING
 EFFORTS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHRUBLAND RESTORATION IN PLASTIC TREE SHELTERS
 Meghan A. Jeffus, Advisor: Erin J. Questad

 Southern California shrubland communities face expansive type conversion into invasive
 grasslands, largely due to modification into livestock rangeland, high frequency of intense fires,
 and changing precipitation events. Unpredictable precipitation can make restoration difficult. A
 solution is to add water manually as part of the restoration; though the associated costs may
 prove unfeasible in large-scale projects. In addition, native species are outcompeted by intense
 propagule pressure from invasive seeds in the seed bank, which can be remedied in a restoration
 project by increasing the density of seeded natives. Seeding shrub species directly into plastic
 tree-shelters is relatively novel but has been shown to increase plant survival, height, and volume
 by providing favorable conditions for seedlings. This study will use a field experiment where seeds
 are added to tree shelters to test the effects of seed density and watering on plant growth and

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 establishment. By removing the unpredictability of precipitation with watering, we predict there
 will be higher levels of establishment at lower seeding densities, reducing the amount of seed
 needed for successful restoration. The proposed experimental restoration field experiment will
 occur at the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. Diplacus longiflorus,
 Amsinckia intermedia, and Eriogonum fasciculatum, three species commonly utilized in
 restorations, will be seeded into tree shelters at five varied densities of 10, 25, 50, 100, or 200
 seeds per shelter. Half of the individual tree shelters will be given water on a biweekly basis for
 four months following establishment, with watering continuing for the first two years at larger
 intervals. To measure the success of the restoration treatments, presence and number of
 seedlings, germination rate, plant canopy area, and flowering timing and proportion will be
 recorded. Material and labor costs will be recorded for each treatment. This study aims to
 quantify the effect of watering treatment on the number of seeds necessary for a successful
 restoration without a surplus of wasted resources and costs.

23. Correlation Between Adipocyte Nuclear Area and Lipid Accumulation
 Cristian Jimenez, Mona Ghoul, Zachary Skovgaard, Yuanxiang (Ansel) Zhao, Advisor: Yuanxiang
 (Ansel) Zhao

 Adipogenesis is the process of uncommitted human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)
 differentiating into adipocytes. hMSCs can be stimulated to differentiate into adipocytes in vitro
 using adipogenic induction media (AIM) composed of insulin, dexamethasone, and 3-isobutyl-1-
 methylxanthine (IBMX). Our study aimed to determine how the nuclear area changes for both
 adipocytes and non-adipocytes over 60 days of adipogenesis and how lipid accumulation
 correlates with the adipocyte nuclear area over the same time period. DAPI and Oil-Red-O stains
 were used to identify the nucleus and lipid droplets, respectively, at specific time points over 60
 days. ImageJ software was used to quantify the nuclear and lipid droplet area. The nuclear area
 was found to be significantly reduced in adipocytes compared to non-adipocytes at all time point
 measurements. Lipid droplet size was found to both increases continuously and negatively
 correlate with adipocyte nuclear area.

24. Genetic Signatures of Selection for Resistance to Lead Exposure in the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes
 aura) Genome
 Alexandria Koedel, Alexandra Gresham, Peter Bloom, Miguel Saggese, Allison Shultz, Advisor:
 Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati

 Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura), key scavengers in many ecological communities', often feed on
 carcasses left behind by hunters who use lead (Pb) shot, resulting in their exposure to this toxic
 metal and a potential population genetic response. Currently, no information exists about genetic
 variation in susceptibility to Pb in vultures or whether past exposure to Pb has exerted selection
 for increased resistance to Pb in this species or any other raptor. Signatures of selection may be
 identified in the genome through detection of the "hitchhiking effect", in which selectively
 favorable mutations are fixed in a population thus altering the frequency of alleles at closely
 linked loci. Consistent with this, in the genome of the Turkey Vulture, we expect signatures of
 selection at loci associated with known toxic effects of Pb or its detoxification. Such loci may

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 include genes involved in oxidative stress response, heavy metal detoxification, and metal
 transport. We plan to conduct Illumina short-read sequencing of 10 Turkey Vultures that we
 previously caught, followed by genome assembly using a previous high-quality Turkey Vulture
 reference genome. We will identify signatures of selection in regions of the Turkey Vulture
 genome using outlier loci tests and neutrality test statistics such as Fay and Wu's and McDonald-
 Kreitman test. Evidence of genetic signatures of selection for resistance to Pb exposure in the
 Turkey Vulture genome will unveil how raptors might face toxicological risk from Pb pollution, and
 what the role is for evolution (as opposed to plasticity), in supporting the persistence of Turkey
 Vulture populations in the face of widespread Pb contamination.

25. DETERMINATION OF C92 AS AN ESSENTIAL PROTEIN FOR THE LYTIC CYCLE OF STIV3
 George Mariscal*, Michael Overton, Jamie C. Snyder, Advisor: Jamie C. Snyder

 The study of Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus (STIV) has led to the development of a genetic
 system to study archaeal viruses. Until the discovery of STIV there was not much known about
 archaeal viruses and their interaction with their hosts from the thermophilic Crenarcheota
 phylum. STIV is a model virus that replicates in acidic (pH 2.2) high temperature (82C)
 environments such as the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, where it was originally
 discovered with its host S. solfataricus. STIV replicates via a lytic cycle where it forms 7 pyramidal-
 like shapes on the S-layer surface of its host prior to egressing. The C92 protein in the viral
 genome has been determined to play a key role in replication and formation of the pyramidal
 structures. It is evident C92 is essential to replication in STIV, but it is hypothesized to have a
 greater function than is currently understood. Recently, STIV3, a genetically similar variant of STIV
 has become a virus of interest that replicates in S. acidocaldarius via lysogenic cycle. A genetic
 system has recently been developed for STIV3 that is alternative to the current genetic system for
 STIV and is currently under review within our research. This project aims to determine whether
 C92 in STIV3 and STIV are functionally identical. To determine this, we will use site-directed
 mutagenesis followed by transfection to determine if the viral C92 mutants are capable of
 replication. Viral replication will be tested using qPCR, western blots, and plaque assay.

26. EXAMINING NON-PREGNANT MOUSE LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY USING NANO TAGS®
 Jessica Ivonne Martinez, Advisor: Juanita K. Jellyman

 Nano tag is a novel three-axes accelerometer and temperature sensor for wireless measurement
 and storage of body temperature and activity data in mice. Few peer-reviewed studies have been
 published using nano tag devices and there are no published studies in pregnant mice. The
 objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility of using nano tags to measure animal
 activity levels before, and during, pregnancy in mice. Swiss Webster mice were used in the study.
 Under anesthesia, the nano tag was implanted subcutaneously. After at least 5 days of recovery,
 the mouse was mated overnight, and pregnancy confirmed by the presence of a copulatory plug.
 Body temperature and activity data were recorded continuously, stored in the nano tag device,
 and retrieved by near field communication. We will present preliminary temperature and activity
 data from four mice before and during pregnancy. Our long-term goal is to use nano tags to
 compare maternal activity levels in two groups of mice during pregnancy.

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27. SEED PREFERENCE OF SMALL MAMMALS AND BIRDS AND ITS IMPACTS ON COASTAL SAGE
 SCRUB RESTORATION EFFORTS
 Ashley L. Bartling, Sandra C. Dansereau, Maddison R. Mejia, Anthony W. Rondon, Erin J. Questad,
 Advisor: Erin J. Questad

 The California sage scrub ecosystem has become a habitat for both native and nonnative plant
 species. In response, restoration efforts are needed to help increase native populations. One of
 the easiest techniques for restoration is to seed the desired area. However, this method can be
 impacted by the presence of granivorous animal species, who consume the seeds before they
 have a chance to germinate. The seed preference of small mammals and birds can contribute to
 the establishment of invasive and native species throughout this ecosystem. In this study, seed
 preference trials were conducted from Summer of 2021 through Spring of 2022 to determine the
 dominant granivore species and the highest preferred seed species from a mix of eight species of
 native and nonnative seeds. The seeds were presented to consumers in glass petri dishes and
 monitored with motion-activated trail cameras. Determining which seed species they consume
 the most can help direct future restoration efforts in the sage scrub ecosystem.

28. DEC-205-expressing dendritic cells inhibit T cell responses during West Nile Virus encephalitis in
 the central nervous system
 Chiefe Mo*, Cuong V. Thai, Advisor: Douglas M. Durrant

 West Nile Virus (WNV), a neurotropic flavivirus, is the leading cause of mosquito-borne
 neuroinvasive disease in the U.S. Recent studies show that dysfunctional T cell responses correlate
 with severe disease in both humans and mice. Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for reactivating
 antiviral CD8+ T cell responses in the CNS that are required to mitigate viral encephalitis. Previous
 reports have shown that CNS-localized DEC-205+ DCs accumulate within the CNS during WNV
 encephalitis; however, their specific role in programming T cell immunity remains poorly
 understood. DEC-205, an endocytic receptor expressed by DC subsets can promote either antigen-
 specific effector T cell activation or immunological T cell tolerance. Using a mouse model of WNV
 encephalitis, we demonstrate that DEC-205-/- mice exhibit enhanced clinical signs of disease and
 increased mortality compared to WT controls. The enhanced susceptibility in DEC-205-/- mice
 arose from an increased viral burden with the CNS; however, this was associated with increased
 inflammatory myeloid, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell infiltrates. In addition, expression of activation
 markers CD25 and CD44 increased while CD69 levels decreased within the DEC-205-/- mice
 compared with their WT counterparts. CD69 expression has been shown to be associated with
 regulatory T cells. To confirm the immunomodulatory role of DEC-205, we will measure CD4+
 regulatory T cell frequencies within the CNS of DEC-205-/- and WT animals following WNV
 infection. Taken together, these data suggest that DEC-205 critically regulates WNV pathogenesis
 and neuroinvasive disease by limiting immune-mediated pathology in the CNS following WNV
 infection.

29. Recombinant endolysin as an alternative to antibiotics to treat colibacillosis
 Richard Nunez Gomez, Meera C. Kelly, Advisor: Junjun Liu

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 Recombinant endolysin as an alternative to antibiotics to treat colibacillosis

 Richard N. Gomez, Meera C. Kelly, Junjun Liu, Ph.D.
 Department of Biological Sciences

 California poultry industry is one of the state's agricultural leaders and has an enormous impact to
 the state's economy with sales value in excess of $2.5 billion annually. One of the diseases
 threatening the poultry industry is colibacillosis, which is caused by avian pathogenic E. coli
 (APEC). In the past, antibiotics were used to control the disease. However, frequent use of
 antibiotics has resulted in resistance and causes food safety concerns. Now, California law bans
 the routine use of antibiotics, which makes it important to develop alternative approaches to
 prevent and treat colibacillosis. Endolysin is an enzyme coded by bacteriophage genome, which is
 capable of lysing bacteria and therefore becomes an attractive candidate. This study aims at the
 development of recombinant endolysin for the control of APEC. The recombinant endolysin will be
 engineered to pierce the outer membrane of the Gram-negative APEC and cause bacterial lysis.

30. Investigate whether Garlic modulates the TLR4 pathway differently in murine macrophage cell
 lines, J774A.1 and RAW264.7
 Christian J. Ordaz, Advisor: Nancy Buckley

 Garlic (Allium sativum) is known to have immunomodulatory effects. Macrophages are important
 innate immune cells that help remove pathogens. Macrophages can produce cytokines like tumor
 necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in response to pathogens. Macrophages, via their toll-like receptor-4
 (TLR4), detect lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of the outer membrane of gram-negative
 bacteria. LPS stimulates pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and nitric oxide (NO). TLR4
 signaling activates the NF-kB transcription factor to cause a pro-inflammatory response. We have
 found that garlic stimulates LPS-induced TNF-α secretion from J774A.1 but reduces LPS-induced
 TNF-α secretion from RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Thus, we want to investigate whether
 garlic modulates the production of TNF-α and NO by altering the TLR4 signaling pathway
 differently in J774A.1 cells compared to RAW 264.7 cells. J774A.1 and RAW 264.7 macrophages
 were treated with LPS in the presence or absence of garlic. TNF-α cell secretion was assessed from
 cell supernatants collected 24h after treatment via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
 NO was assessed via the Griess assay. Thus far, we have confirmed that when J774A.1 cells are
 stimulated with LPS + Garlic, it significantly increases TNF-α secretion levels compared to LPS
 alone. RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS and Garlic have similar levels of secreted TNF-α levels to
 cells treated with LPS alone. We also found that Garlic reduced LPS-induced NO production in
 J774A.1 and RAW264.7 cells compared to LPS only treated cells. Preliminary studies in RAW 264.7
 cells also revealed that Garlic alters cytokine and TLR4 mRNA expression transcription levels,
 suggesting a possible mechanism of action by Garlic. These findings are significant because they
 further elucidate how garlic affects macrophage immune responses to bacterial components such
 as LPS.

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31. Altering the ABE Fermentation Pathway in Clostridium beijerinckii
 Mark Ortizt, Advisor: Wei-Jen Lin

 Clostridium beijerinckii has an interesting and extremely useful process that could be harnessed
 by humanity to better treat ailments or even create a powerful and viable biofuel, however rate of
 production of these biochemicals is below desired parameters. This process is called ABE
 fermentation or acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation and through various other biological
 processes can also transform into IBE with isopropanol replacing acetone. By utilizing certain gene
 enhancers and suppressers depending on what genes activated what genes and culturing specific
 Clostridium strains to see if there are any increases in biochemical production and hopefully
 exclusive productions of biochemicals, specifically either butanol, or butyric acid or possibly even
 isopropanol. Utilizing genetic analysis databases such as NCBI Genome and tracking and
 comparing FASTA files of genes of interest that are known to have a specific part in the metabolic
 process of the ABE pathway. In this study, we identified x genes from the ABE pathway and x
 gene. We identified C. b strains isolated from CPP farms were also analyzed for their butyric acid
 and butanol production. strains of various yields of butyric acid and butanol will be compared to
 further understand the regulation of ABE/IBE fermentation pathway

32. Effects of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Chicken Embryo Growth
 Kenneth Paredes*, Maya Shattuck, Diana Truong, Juanita Jellyman, Advisor: Juanita Jellyman

 Over the past 10 years, medical marijuana (Cannabis sativa) has been approved for use in > 22
 states. Over a similar time, marijuana use has increased, including by pregnant women. Marijuana
 use is associated with low birthweight in humans. Similarly, exposure to Δ9-THC reduced
 birthweights in mice. Cannabis may affect birth weight by changing maternal physiology, placental
 function, or the growth of the offspring. The objective of the current study was to develop a chick
 embryo model of embryonic growth. Ten chicken eggs were injected with 50 l warm saline on
 alternating days from day 2 of development. After euthanasia, images were taken to assess
 vascularization of the chorioallantoic membrane (n=2; day 10) and the egg weight, chick weight,
 head circumference, and limb lengths were measured (n=8; day 20). Data are mean ± sem. On day
 20, we established mean values for egg weight (48.4 ± 0.500g), chick weight (20.4 ± 0.975g), head
 circumference (39.2 ± 0.268mm) and wing length (28.6 ± 0.696mm). The long-term goal of this
 study is to use our model to determine the direct effects of ∆9-THC exposure on growth and
 development in chicken embryos.

33. Determining the Molecular Mechanisms Behind PMN Trogocytosis of Trichomonas vaginalis
 Ashley Denise Ramirez*, Frances Mercer, Advisor: Frances Mercer

 Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a flagellated unicellular parasite responsible for causing the most
 common non-viral sexually-transmitted infection worldwide, trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis
 affects 245 million people annually, with 6.9 million of those cases being in the U.S. alone and has
 been linked to a direct medical cost in the U.S. of 1.44 million per year. Although Tv is highly
 prevalent, because it is so understudied, it has been classified as a neglected parasite. A deeper
 understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the killing of the parasite could aid in the

2022 College of Science Research Symposium

 effective vaccine design against Tv. It is known that a type of white blood cell called neutrophils
 (PMN) are critical in the killing and clearance of Tv via a contact-dependent mechanism called
 trogocytosis in which PMN surround the parasite and take bites preceding parasite death.
 However, the molecular players involved in this contact-dependent process remain unknown.
 Since a previous study has shown that PMN cell surface receptor, FcYRIIa, is required for
 trogocytosis of breast cancer cells, we hypothesize that FcYRIIa may be required for the
 trogocytosis of Tv as well. To test this, we are designing FcYRIIa knock-out (KO) clones using
 mammalian promyelocytic cell line PLB-985. We differentiate these clones to become neutrophil-
 like cells (NLCs) and conduct cytolysis assays in which percent parasite killing is determined.
 Preliminary results show that percent parasite killing is significantly decreased in FcYRIIa KO clones
 compared to control NLCs. To further investigate where the fragments of trogocytosed Tv are
 localizing in PMN, we are conducting trogocytosis assays in which we co-incubate fluorescently
 labelled Tv and NLCs and observe them under the confocal microscope. Preliminary results
 suggest that some fragments of trogocytosed Tv are being localized to PMN lysosomes.

34. Investigating the growth of different Tritrichomas foetus strains at different pHs
 Bryan Ramirez Reyes, Frances Mercer, Advisor: Frances Mercer

 Tritrichomonas foetus is a unicellular flagellated protozoan parasite known to cause
 trichomoniasis in cattle. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease known to affect the
 reproductive tract of cattle, resulting in abortion and reduced fertility. However, how the immune
 system combats trichomoniasis is under-characterized. In order to examine T. foetus and the
 immune response against it, we must first be able to cultivate it. T. foetus is most commonly
 grown in Diamonds media, however the optimal pH that each different strain grows in is
 unknown. In a literature search, we found that researchers typically grew T. foetus in a pH of 7.2.
 Trichomonas vaginalis, a similar parasite known to cause trichomoniasis in humans, is grown at a
 pH of 6.2. Meanwhile, no modification to the Diamonds media will result in a pH of 6.8. Therefore,
 we hypothesize that modification of Diamonds growth media to a pH of 7.2 will result in a greater
 cell count and viability, in comparison to pH 6.2 and 6.8. We will grow four different strains of T.
 foetus in Diamonds media at pHs of 6.2, 6.8 and 7.2, and compare the growth of these parasites
 over 7 consecutive days. The concentration of T. foetus will be determined via microscope using
 the hemocytometer and by flow cytometry. Data for strains KV-1 and BP-4 indicate a preference
 for more basic media, pH 6.8 and 7.2. Overall, these results will help determine the optimal pH
 modification to grow viable T. foetus cultures, which will help expand future T. foetus research.

35. Imidacloprid, not kaolin clay, affects floral visitation to watermelon flowers
 Emily J. Roman, Seth Kapp, Vonny M. Barlow, Joan M. Leong, Advisor: Joan M. Leong

 Production of melons in the desert valleys of southeastern CA requires management
 to control for silverleaf whitefly populations. Control of populations is typically done with a soil
 application of a neonicotinoid insecticide like imidacloprid. Neonicotinoids have been shown to
 cause a variety of sublethal effects in bees, which are the primary pollinators of watermelon
 crops. We examined whether the use of an alternative treatment, kaolin clay, as well as
 imidacloprid, influenced overall insect floral visitation, honey bee floral visitation and bee